Ukrainians in the UK - Jon Anslow

9th March 2023 Ukrainians in the UK – Jon Anslow

Jon began his presentation by expressing how it had been a cathartic experience preparing for his talk. He outlined that his village, Aslockton had supported 13 Ukrainians in 5 families, with he and his wife receiving a Mum, 2 children and their Grandmother.  His inspiration to get involved in helping the Ukrainians was Gary Lineker, who despite all his money actually had a family live with them in his home. Their local community put a package together to send trucks over, although he was late arriving in the meeting at Whatton, his wife had volunteered him for the committee!

The Government issue forms had to be completed and he has yet to find a match between UK and Ukr. Family, and there was concern about hosts being able to handle the situation. It was difficult as there was nobody to speak to for help or advice, so they set up a WhatsApp group and Social Media became a useful tool for the Ukr.s It was a different refugee situation that was women led, so a danger with them alone with children and vulnerable. Often migrations (which have been taking place over many years) are male led.  The man migrates, gets job, gets a new home, then brings his family.

Jon described a situation where a man from the North offered their family 3 visas, missing the grandmother one, thus suspecting possible abuse or exploitation.

They came across the Sunflower Sisters who used the term “guests” rather than “refugees”, who got together the paperwork required: passports, birth certificates, certain financial information, obviously all sensitive and personal information that could be fed to an Ukrainian Embassy, unfortunately based in Stockholm. They finally received their family, which was a challenge not having children themselves and the children had most difficulty with English food, but eventually they were able to make Borscht ( a sour soup based on beetroot), which they could serve to the child in a flask, so they could eat when out. Consequently, their first meals eating together were quite awkward, so eventually they ate separately. They come from a town called Irpin, NW of Kyiv and on 23^rd February 2022, the invasion and bombings started so they got the children to pack their bags( changing the toys to clothes) and went down to their basement for protection. They decided to travel West to join with Grandmother and continue to the Polish border. They eventually arrived and Jon wanted to give them some stability, getting appointments organised at the Job centre and arranging schools for the children. The latter proving a challenge with Notts. County Council who tried to delay decisions as school holidays were due in a few weeks, but eventually getting them into Aslockton school.

They went to an event organised by the Nottingham Ukrainian Ensemble, which Michael M. and Alan F. attended with them. Then followed a shop opening which offered new or nearly new clothes enabling some dignity to return to their gusts. Trying to get independence for them was even more challenging, they needed to be earning about £28k pa to cover the rentals involved in some basic properties, concluding with Jon and his wife standing as guarantors, a major commitment..

When asked if he would do it again, Jon’s immediate response was ‘no’. David V. gave a heartfelt vote of thanks acknowledging what a great job he and his wife had performed compared with most of us who had made minor contributions and member joined in a warm round of applause.                                              AR